Once in the darbaar of Guru Gobind Singh jee, a Sikh called Laal Singh came with a shield. He had spent a lot of time constructing this shield which was almost impossible to penetrate. It was not only strong but was also very light. Everyone in the darbaar praised the dhaal (shield) and Guru Sahib too expressed his happiness at the dhaal.

Bhai Laal Singh was a very good Sikh but when so many people praised his dhaal, he developed haume (ego) and declared in the sangat that no bullet can penetrate his shield. He said this very egoistically. As soon as he said this Guru Sahib told him that he would test Laal Singh’s dhaal the next day. Bhai Laal Singh still did not realize his mistake and accepted the challenge saying that no bullet could penetrate his shield.As he came out of the darbaar of Guru Sahib, he realized that he had committed a blunder. He said to himself that Guru Sahib is a known warrior and on top of that he is Satguru. What could stop him from penetrating his shield? He greatly regretted his mistake and came to his lodging area greatly depressed. Although, he realized his mistake of challenging the sangat, he still wanted Guru Sahib to keep his honour and not let anyone break his shield.

He consulted his friends who were gursikhs as well and asked them what to do. They told him that Guru Sahib could no doubt penetrate his shield. They suggested to him that the only way for him to save his honour was to perform Ardaas in front of Guru Sahib. Bhai Laal Singh prepared “Degh”(Karaah Parshaad) and along with other Gursikhs did Ardaas before Waheguru to save his honour. Bhai Laal Singh did not sleep all night and kept doing paath all night. The next day Bhai Laal Singh arrived in the darbaar of Guru Kalgidhar Paatshaah but he arrived very humbly. After the bhog of Kirtan, Guru Sahib asked Bhai Laal Singh to get ready as he was going to test his dhaal. Bhai Laal Singh did not accept the challenge as he had done the previous day but responded very humbly to Guru Sahib.Guru Sahib asked Bhai Aalam Singh to test the dhal first. Bhai Laal Singh stood there with the dhaal, constantly doing naam and paath. Bhai Aalam Singh tried three times but the bullet missed the dhaal and did not hit it.

Then Guru Sahib smilingly took over the gun and took aim at the dhaal. Guru Sahib just stood there but did not fire. After few moments he called off his aim and asked Bhai Laal Singh what he had been doing all night. Bhai Laal Singh fell at the lotus feet of Guru Sahib and told him everything. Guru Sahib, blessed Bhai Laal Singh and declared that indeed, no one could penetrate the dhaal as Vaheguru himself and all Gurus were present to protect the dhaal. Guru Sahib told Bhai Laal Singh to never talk in haume again.

CONCLUSION
1) So great is our Guru. Guru Sahib himself accepted the defeat by not penetrating the dhaal but protected the honour of his Sikh. Why should we leave such great Guru and get indulged in maaiya? Aseen kurbaan kyoon nahi ho jaande apne Guru uppar?
2) It is a good idea to prepare degh with full maryada and perform ardaas for our difficult kaarajs. Nothing is impossible if we do ardaas with full faith.
3) Never talk egoistically in Sangat.
4) Guru does not consider our shortcomings and weaknesses when we do ardaas. He ignores our shortcomings and accepts ardaas that is done with faith.

ਨਾਨਕ ਮਤਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤੋਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਹਿਮਾਲਿਆ ਪਰਬਤ ਵੱਲ ਤੁਰ ਪਏ। ਨੈਨੀਤਾਲ ਤੋਂ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਸਿੱਧਾਂ ਦੀ ਬਸਤੀ ਵਿਚ ਪੁੱਜੇ। ਜਦੋਂ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਭੁੱਖ ਲੱਗੀ ਪਰ ਸਿੱਧਾਂ ਦੀ ਬਸਤੀ ਤੋਂ ਕੁਝ ਨਾ ਮਿਲਣ ਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕੀਤੀ। ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਲਗੇ ਰੀਠੇ ਦੇ ਰੁੱਖ ਵੱਲ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾ-ਦ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਟੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਹੋਏ ਇਸ਼ਾਰਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਬਚਨ ਕੀਤਾ ਕਿ ਰੁੱਖ ਤੋਂ ਰੀਠੇ ਤੋੜ ਲਿਆਉ। ਮਰਦਾਨਾ ਜੀ ਸਤਿ ਬਚਨ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਰੀਠੇ ਦੇ ਬਿਰਖ ਤੋਂ ਰੀਠੇ ਤੋੜ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੋਲ ਲਿਆਏ ਅਤੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਨਾਲ ਮਿਲਕੇ ਛੱਕਣ ਲੱਗੇ। ਉਹ ਜ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਰਗੇ ਕੌੜੇ ਰੀਠੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਸਦਕੇ ਛੁਹਾਰੇ ਵਾਂਗੂੰ ਮਿੱਠੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਉੱਪਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਮਿਹਰ ਦੀ ਨਿਗਾਹ ਕੀਤੀ (ਅੱਖਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਦੇਖਿਆ) ਇਹ ਕੌਤਕ ਵੇਖ ਸਾਰੇ ਸਿੱਧ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਹੋ ਗਏ। ਫਿਰ ਮਰਦਾਨਾ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਰੁੱਖ ਦੇ ਦੂਸਰੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਰੀਠੇ ਤੋੜੇ ਉਹ ਕੌੜੇ ਹੀ ਨਿਕਲੇ। ਜਿਸ ਪਾਸੇ ਵੱਲ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਨਿਗਾਹ ਕੀਤੀ, ਉਹ ਰੀਠੇ ਅੱਜ ਵੀ ਮਿੱਠੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਵਾਲੇ ਰੀਠੇ ਕੌੜੇ ਹਨ।

ਸਿੱਖਿਆ : ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਵ ਜੀ ਕਿਤਨੇ ਸਮਰੱਥ ਹਨ, ਇਕ ਬਨਸਪਤੀ ਤੇ ਵੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਪੈ ਜਾਵੇ ਉਹ ਵੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੁਭਾਅ ਬਦਲ ਲੈਂਦੀ ਹੈ।